Extension table



April 29,1930. I DREW 1,756,586

EXTENSION TABLE Filed Feb. 6, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l O e I I V M 25 24%] I kyw I Wa I, a e I? \/2:

- I I 5 I l w Z];//Z @%v HH UPEW April 29, 1930. H. H. DREW I EXTENSION TABLE 3 Sheets-Shet 2 HHDTEW Gaza/7;

Filed Feb. 6, 1928 Y5 I |||rl r 1 N///% April 29, 1930.

H. H. DREW EXTENSION TABLE Filed Feb. 6, 1928 3 SheetsSheet 3 Patented Apr. 29, 193% STATES FECE HERBERT H. ILREW, OF WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN, AS SIGNOR TO WATER'IOWN' TABLE- SLIIDE COMlAINY, F WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN, A. CGRPORATION 0F WISCONSIN EXTENSION TABLE Applicationvfiled February 6, 1928.

This invention pertains to improvements in extension tables, and more particularly to that type of table provided with a one-piece top section, and extension end leaves normally nested below the same when retracted.

The present invention has primarily for its object to provide an extension table of the foregoing general character, which is comparatively simple and extremely rigid in design, and which lends itself to exceptionally easy operation.

A more specific object is to provide a onepiece table top section rigidly secured to the table supporting base, and extensible end l5 leaves normally nested below the top and adapted to be raised to flush position with the top when projected.

Incidental to the foregoing, a further object'is to provide floating slide rail members carried by the extensible end leaves and vertically shiftable therewith.

Another object is to provide a table structure of the foregoing character, which will permit of the use of any conventional type of table slides.

A still further object is to provide simple and efficient means adapted to form a rigid supporting connection between the table base and the end leaves when the latter are projected to their extended position.

A further object is to provide automatically actuated means for obtaining the desired relative operation of the table parts essential to extension or retraction of the table end r leaves.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far Serial No. 252,367.

devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a portion of a table top and its associated mechanism, constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan of the supporting base and associated'slide, with the top and end leaves removed.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the end leaves in nested position.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the end leaves projected to the-limit of theirmovement.

Figure 5 is a similar view illustrating the end leaves in flush extended position with the table top;

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1, with the end leaves in raised and extended position.

Figure 7 is a detailed fragmentary section taken on the line 77 of Figure 1, and

Figure "8 "is a detail viewshowing one of the cam blocks in elevation and a portion of one of the bolster blocks with parts thereof brokenaway and illustrated in cross section.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the numeral ldesignates a supporting standard which carries the base frame 2, comprising the side frames 3 connected at their ends by the lateral frame members 4. Mounted on the lateral frame members 4, and secured thereto in any suitable way, are a pair of supporting brackets 5, to which is rigidly secured a one-piece table top 6, the latter thus being spaced above the base 2 to allow for the table slides and nesting of the end leaves under the table top in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Positioned adjacent the ends of the base frame 2, and supported upon the side frames 8, are a pair of slide rail members 7 of conventional structure and includes a center rail 8 which is held against longitudinal move- 3- are confined against longitudinal movement, the same are free to shift vertically. 7

As iscustoma-ry in connection with conventional table slides, each of the center slides 8 is provided with adjacent slide rails 11 which are connectedto the center rail in any suitable manner to permit longitudinal sliding movement. The top face of the slide sections are cut away to receive the conventional equalizer mechanism comprising the racks 12 secured to the slidable rails 11 and the pinion 13 pivotally mounted on the C811- ter section 8. The foregoing slide structure is well known to thoseslrilled in this particu lar art, and, therefore, forms no specific part of the present invention, other than in the combination to be hereinafter claimed.

Secured to the slide rails 11 are a pair of end leaves 14, one of the leaves being secured to the two outside rails, while the opposite leaf is secured to the inside rails.

From the foregoingit will be readily, seen that upon projecting one of the extensible leaves 14, movement will be transmitted to the equalizing mechanism to project the opposite leaf simultaneously and for a corre sponding distance.

As previously described the table top 6 is rigidly and stationarily secured to the table base 2 through the supporting brackets 5, while the extensible leaves 14 are mounted upon the slide rails 11, and in their normal retracted position are nested immediately below the table top; lVhen the end leaves 14 are projected'for extension of the table, it'is therefore essential to raise the same to a plane flush with the table top 6. This is 'accom plished by means of the cam blocks 15 carried upon the lower face of the slide rails 11. As best shown in Figures 6 and 8,.the forward' ends of the cam blocks 15 areeach provided with an inclined face 16 adapted teen-- gage one of the lateral frame members 3 as the-end leaves are projected, thus serving to lift the entire slide sections 7 and the end leaves carried therebyv to position the same in flush alinement with the table top 6.

Slidably mounted upon the lower face of each center rail 8 are a pair ofbol'ster blocks 17. The blocks 17 are provided with longitudinal slots 18 for the reception of the retaining screws 19,130 permit longitudinal.

shifting of thebolster blocks.

As best shown in Figures 7 and 8, each cam block 15 is provided with a dowel 20 adapted to project into a longitudinal groove 21 formed in the adjacent side of its cooperating bolsterblock, and as noted in Figure 8, these grooves terminate adjacent the forward'end of the bolster block. I

In extending the leaf 14 the following operation takes place. One of the leaves is man ually projected, during which operation similar movement simultaneously is imparted to the opposite leaf through the equalizing mechanism of the slide rail sections, in a manner common to the present conventional equalizing slides. As the leaves 14 and their associated slides are projected, the cam faces 15 of the cam blocks 16 engage the side frame members 3, causing the slide sections 7 to be bodily shifted upwardly after the leaves 14 have cleared the table top 6, the raised and extended position of the leaves 14 being best shown in Figures 4 and 6.

Subsequent to raising the slide sections7,

the dowels 20 carried by the cam blocks, en-

gage the ends of the grooves 21 and thereafter carrythe bolster blocks forward to a position between the side frame members 3 and the center rails 8, thus serving to support provided on their lower faces with recesses 22, which are alined with dogs 23 pivotally carried by the adjacent cooperating cam blocks. The dogs 23 are provided with depending arms 24, which, upon projection of the slide rails 11 to the outward limit of their movement, engage the bl clrs 25 carried by the base and cause the dogs toswinginto engagement with the recesses 22. Thereafter, upon. forcing the end leaves 14 inwardly, the bolster blocks engaged by the dogs will be forced inwardly, permitting the slide sections to drop downwardly upon the side rails 3. Under normal conditions, as soon as the bolster blocks are removed from the supporting position on rails 2, pressure between the dogs and the recesses 22 is relieved, and gravity will cause the arm 24 of the dog 23 to drop to a vertical position and thereby turn the dog 23 out of the notch 22 in the bolster block. However, should the dogs tend to bind, a slight projecting movement of the slides will cause them to be relieved, after which further retracting operation of the movable slide rails is obtained, it being understood thatbcth side-s of the bolster blocks are grooved to permit the dowels 10 pass inthe retracting'movement of the slide rails.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it will be seen that a comparatively simple, rigid, and efiicient structure has been provided, of unusual neatness in appearance, the present structure eliminating the unsightly opening through the center of the table, which is present where a split top is employed. Further, the station ary connection between the supporting has and the'table top affords an exceptionally alt] rigid structure impossible to be obtained in structures Where the top is shifted vertically.

It will further be appreciated that the present structure eliminates the necessity of towels, complicated metal guides, and locks common to other types of extension tables.

It Will also be seen that special and peculiar constructions of slides, necessary Where a shiftable top is employed, are eliminated. Any standard slide may be employed, it being merely necessary to attach the cam and bolster blocks. which are the only additional mechanism required for the present type of table over the usual extension table Where the leaves are manually inserted.

Furthermore, the present structure reduces the cost of manufacture to a minimum, in that the arrangement of parts lends itself to ready assembly. In other Words, the table proper may be completed and thereafter the end leaves and slides assembled on the same, the studs 9 serving as the only means for guiding and holding the slides in proper position.

In the operation of the table it Will be readily seen that because of the floating action of the slides, the end leaves can readily adjust themselves to proper alinement With the table top. Further, because of the automatic action of the dogs, manual manipulation of locks and catches is entirely eliminated.

lVhile two slide sections have been illus trated, it Will be appreciated that in a narroW table a single slide section will function equally as Well. Therefore, the invention is not to be confined to the arrangement illustrated, but rather to the novel structure and function of the table slide employed in combination With the characteristic features of the table.

I claim:

1. An extension table comprising a support, a table top rigidly mounted on said support, a vertically movable rail, a slide rail guided on said vertically movable rail, an extension leaf mounted on said slide rail, means carried by the slide rail for raising the same upon projection, and means actuated by the raising means for supporting the rails in their elevated position.

2. An extension table comprising a support, a table top rigidly mounted upon said support, a vertically movable center rail, a pair of slide rails guided on said center rail, an extension leaf mounted on each of said slide rails, means carried by said slide rails for raising the same upon projection, and means carried by the center rail for supporting said rail when the slide rails are pro- X j ected.

3. An extension table comprising a support, a table top rigidly mounted upon said support, a vertically movable center rail, a pair of slide rails guided on said center rail, an extension leaf mounted on each of said slide rails, means carried by said slide rails for raising the same upon projection, and means carried by the center rail and actuated by the raising means carried by the slide rails to support the center slide rails are projected.

l. An extension table comprising a support, a table top rigidly mounted on said support, a vertically movable center rail, a pair of slide rails guided on said center rail,-an.

extension leaf mounted on each of said slide rails, cam blocks carried by the slide rails for raising the same upon projection, and bolster blocks carried by the center rail and actuated upon projection of the slide rails: to support the center rail When theslide rails are projected.

5. An extension table comprising a support, a table top rigidly mounted on said support, a vertically movable center rail, a pair: of slide rails guided on said center rail, an extension leaf mounted on each of said slide rails, cam blocks carried by the slide rails for raising the same upon projection, bolster blocks carried by the center rail and actuated" upon projection of the slide rails to support the center rail When the slide rails are projected, and means carried by the slide rails for removing the bolster blocks from their supporting position upon retraction of thev slide rails.

6. An extension table comprising a support, a table top rigidly mounted on said support, a vertically movable center rail, a pair of slide rails guided on said center rail,- an extension leaf mounted on each of said slide rails, cam blocks carried by the slide rails for raising the same upon projection, bolster blocks carried by the center rail and actuated upon projection of the slide rails to support the center rail When the slide rails are projected, and gravity actuated means carried by the slide rails for removing the bolster blocks from their supporting position upon retraction of the slide rails.

7. An extension table comprising a support, a table top rigidly mounted on said support, a vertically movable center rail, a pair of slide rails guided upon opposite sides of said center rail, an extension leaf mounted on each of said slide rails, cam blocks carried by the slidable rails for engaging said sup port upon projection of the slidable rails to raise the same, bolster blocks slidably carried upon said center rail adjacent said supporting means carried by the slide rails for engaging the bolster blocks and moving them to position the center rail on said table top support, and gravity actuated means for engaging said bolster blocks to remove them from supporting position upon retraction of said slide rails.

8. An extension table comprising a support, a table top rigidly mounted on said support, a, vertically movable center rail, a pair rail When the 70 of slide rails guided upon opposite sides of said center rail, an extension leaf mounted on each of sa1d slide rails, oam blocks earned by the slidable ralls for engaging said support upon projection of the slidable rails to raise the same, bolster blocks slidably carried uponsaid center rail adjacent'said supporting means carried by the slide rails for engaging the bolster blocks and moving them to position the center rail on said table top support, gravity actuated means for engaging said bolster blocks to remove them from supporting position upon retraction of said slide rails, and means for equalizing the movement of said slide rails.

' In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Watertown, in the county of Jeflerson and State of Wisconsin.

HERBERT H. DREW. 

